Pioneer-Burdekin – Myth Busting
Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project - myths and truths
MYTH:
Hydro power projects cause significant environmental damage.
FACT:
The Pioneer-Burdekin is a pumped hydro energy storage project, not a conventional hydro power generator.
In a recent interview with ABC Radio Mackay, leading environmental policy and water scientist from Australian National University (ANU) Prof Jamie Pittock said unlike conventional hydro schemes which are often built on a river, the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project proposes much smaller reservoirs at different elevations which circulate water between them and which have much less environmental impact on local flora and fauna than conventional hydro.
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MYTH:
This project will deforest and industrialise one of the most beautiful rural landscapes in Queensland.
FACT:
The reservoirs or inundation areas caused by lower and upper reservoirs are primarily on farming land, cattle grazing land, there are pockets of vegetation and we do have to do environmental studies to understand that. But it is certainly not having a direct impact on the national park. The tunnels and the power station are all underground, under the national park, and will not have a surface impact.
There will be a change to the visual amenity of the Valley as a result of the project. The volume of the lower reservoir will be maximised to ensure there is as much water as possible in the dam at its minimum operating level.
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MYTH:
The project will require an unsustainable amount of water to fill three massive new dams, with ongoing takes to replace evaporation losses.
FACT:
The dams or reservoirs associated with the project do not need to be filled using any local water allocation. There needs to be room in the reservoirs to pump water from the lower to the upper, then to generate back to the lower. Modelling shows it will take two ‘average’ wet seasons to capture enough water. Once captured, only small amounts of topping up are required to account for evaporative losses is required, but that will just require a small amount of the local rainfall received in the region.
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MYTH:
The project will wipe out whole stretches of luxuriant, subtropical forest land, vegetation and mature trees and imperil many vulnerable species of flora and fauna in this biodiverse region.
FACT:
No structures or area of inundation will directly impact the Eungella National Park. Tunnels and the powerhouse will be located in rock deep below the national park. Detailed ecological studies will commence next year to determine any issues with local flora and fauna which need to be considered as part of the project investigation.
Studies investigating flora and fauna, native title and cultural heritage assessments will be delivered in partnership with local stakeholders. Local input to the detailed studies is key to developing a project which manages impacts while delivering the significant local benefits associated with large scale infrastructure developments. Once completed, these studies will enable Government to make a decision about progressing the project to the next stage of development, which would involve a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Protection of the environment is one of the guiding principles of PHES development and no project will proceed if impacts to the local environment cannot be adequately mitigated or offset.
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MYTH:
The project will pose a flooding risk to communities in the lower valley and surrounding area.
FACT:
Some dams have the ability to help mitigate flood events. Unfortunately, this dam has too small capacity to assist with flood mitigation. During intense rain events, the dam will fill and water will flow over the spillway. The water levels in Cattle Creek in a flood event would be very similar, with or without the dam in place.
If the Queensland Government decided that the project was to proceed, Queensland Hydro will use Australian and International experts with previous experience in these types of projects to design and construct the scheme, including the dam wall. We would also undertake expert peer review for the dam design which we would have to do.
Secondly - Queensland Hydro has an expert Technical Review Panel who will also review the dam design.
Also there is a state dam safety regulator which has to approve the project before it proceeds and which has an ongoing role to ensure the safety of the dam.
In summary, modern dams are extremely safe and reliable structures.
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MYTH:
The project will pose a significant risk to health and environment from the blasting needed to remove the top of Mt Dalrymple to construct upper dams.
FACT:
This claim is totally false. We do need rock material to construct the dam, but we certainly won’t be blasting the top of Mt Dalrymple and we won’t be taking it off the top of Mount Dalrymple. Ideally it will be sourced with local rock material from the excavation of the lower reservoir.
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MYTH:
The project will cause ongoing noise and vibration from the mega-plant’s operational equipment and pumps.
FACT: This claim is totally false. The hydro power station will be 700 metres below ground in granite rock. You will not hear or feel anything on the surface.
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MYTH:
The project and planned transmission corridor will devastate the many lives, livelihoods, properties and communities of this region.
FACT:
New electricity transmission lines and substations will need to be built to connect the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project to the existing transmission network in the area. The transmission infrastructure will allow renewable energy from across Queensland to be stored at the site during the day, and then released to supply power to customers at peak times such as early evening.
We don’t know yet where the transmission corridors will go. We still need to do the studies to understand that. We do need transmission lines but where they go is part of the investigation and community consultation that Powerlink will do. They’ll start that process next year and it’s a very consultative process.
To select new transmission line routes, Powerlink assesses social, economic and environmental factors such as existing and future land use, the location of homes, flora and fauna, existing electricity infrastructure corridors and topography. Powerlink’s engagement approach is focused on early discussions with landholders and the community to gain better insights into existing land uses and constraints. This information then directly informs potential corridor options for further investigation. Community views are sought on all corridor options to help select a preferred corridor.
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MYTH:
The Pioneer-Burdekin will use water either currently allocated to water users in the Pioneer-Burdekin catchments – or will be a source of water for use by agricultural and resource companies.
FACT:
This claim is false. The pumped hydro project will not draw on any current water allocations. The water in the two reservoirs – and pumped between them on a daily basis – is only used for energy. It will not be a water source for other projects.
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MYTH:
The project has an estimated cost of $12 billion - how can you be sure the costs won’t blow out like Snowy 2.0 has?
FACT:
The initial cost estimate for Snowy 2.0 was provided before any studies were undertaken into the likely cost of the project.
The Queensland Hydro project team is committed to the development of a detailed analytical report (DAR) into the feasibility of the project.
The DAR requires a range of detailed analyses, including hydrological studies, environmental studies and detailed engineering and design for the site, and is intended to provide sufficient information for the Queensland Government to make a decision as to whether to proceed with the project. While cost estimates will be provided in the detailed analytical report, it should be noted that some cost elements can be expected to change over the course of delivering the project if a decision is made to proceed. This is the case for all large infrastructure projects, where final costs cannot be determined until equipment has been purchased and work undertaken.